1. Thank you for giving the NNC the opportunity to comment on the DSWD guidelines on supplementary feeding, which we hope will help in refining the program to be truly contributory to our nutrition targets.
NNC Comments on the DSWD Omnibus Guidelines on Supplementary Feeding Program
Writeshop on the Finalization of the DSWD Guidelines on Supplementary Feeding
• Cebu City • 4-8 May 2015

2.   
2017/4/19
In essence
What is the real purpose of the DSWD supplementary feeding program?
If intent is to improve the nutritional status of children, using the day care center or SNP as main delivery setting is not appropriate
Not all children in day care centers and SNP are undernourished and experience a calorie or nutrient gap
Children in day care centers and SNP are not as nutritionally vulnerable as younger children, 6 – 23 months old
Before I go to specific comments, there is a need to reflect on the real purpose of the DSWD supplementary feeding program. If the intent is to improve the nutritional status of children, the day care center or the SNP as main delivery setting is not appropriate since not all children in day care centers or SNP are undernourished who experience a calorie or nutrient gap. Furthermore, children in day care centers and children are not as nutritionally vulnerable as young children 6-23 months old.

3.   
2017/4/19
In essence
What is the real purpose of the DSWD supplementary feeding program?
If intent is to limit the feeding to the day care center or SNP as main delivery setting then it can take on other objectives, e.g.
Contribute to the child’s socialization
Introduce children enrollees or participants to nutrition concepts
Improve nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practices of mothers of enrollees
If the intent is to really limit the feeding to the day care center then, the activity is simply feeding and not supplementary feeding and can have as objectives, contribution to the child’’s socialization, introduction of children to nutrition concepts, and improve nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practices of mothers of enrollees.

4.   
2017/4/19
In essence
What is the real purpose of the DSWD supplementary feeding program?
Suggest more discussions
Consensus on purpose
Implications
Doability
Thus, we suggest that more discussions be done during this workshop on what the real intent is, hopefully to reach a consensus. Discussions should also consider the implications for agreed purpose and doability.

5. 2017/4/19
Notwithstanding for discussions on the real purpose of the feeding, please allow us to share specific comments.
Specific comments
4/19/2017

6. Background and Rationale  
2017/4/19
Background and Rationale
We agree with the FOs’ comments to use updated data for both the NNS and the SWS survey on hunger
Using the indices of weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-length/height, NNS 2013 results revealed 19.9%, 30.3% and 7.9% of children 0-5 years old being underweight, stunted and wasted, respectively
Discussion can indicate that these levels considered as high

7. Background and Rationale  
Background and Rationale
The rationale can also state the presence of gap in energy and nutrient intake of the targeted age group to strengthen the need to supplement.
Since NNS 2013 data on individual intake is not yet available, data of 2008 NNS can be used
SFP also serves as a “safety net” to food insecure households and has the ability to meet the gap (MLAV comment. Can be removed, because if we are talking about food insecure households, safety net should apply to hh)

8. Background and Rationale  
Background and Rationale
If possible, include data on the nutritional status of children enrolled in day care centers to establish that a considerable percentage of enrolled children are underweight-for-age

9. Legal Bases Agree with FO VI comments to include Early Years Act  
Legal Bases
Agree with FO VI comments to include Early Years Act
Can include the Zero Hunger Challenge
(MLAV: Please verify if Zero Hunger Challenge can be put on level as the other international instruments; I think not)

10.   
Description
We agree with the FOs’ comment that the word “children” encompasses a wide age range, thus, better to indicate specific age group

11.   
Objective
Agree with comment of NCR FO that “objective” should indicate objective of the guidelines, e.g. To provide guidance for the provision of augmentation support for feeding program for children in LGU-managed DCC/SNP
The objectives of the supplementary feeding can be a section under implementation

12.   
Scope and Coverage
Need to specify the scope and coverage of the guidelines

13.   
Definition of Terms
Include definition of underweight-for-age, stunting and wasting, highlighting their differences

14. Objectives of supplementary feeding  
Objectives of supplementary feeding
The general objective may be to address hunger among children
Specific objectives could be:
1. To close the energy and nutrient gap by 100%;
2. To improve KAS of mother or caregiver on nutrition, esp proper feeding of their children;
To enable the young children to have concepts on good nutrition

15.   
Time of Feeding
If supplementary food will be served during meal time, will no longer be a supplement to regular diet but will replace it
Feeding can be at about 9:00 AM or 3:00 PM so that the participant will not miss both breakfast and lunch.

16. Level of Supplementation  
Level of Supplementation
Suggested level of supplementation should be specified
At least 100% of gap for energy and protein, or
1/3 of RENI for energy and protein
Important to specify that food supplementis micronutrient-dense because of deficiency in vitamin A, and iron
Should also specify use of iodized salt and iron- fortified rice

17. Estimated mean one-day requirement (RENI)  
Gap in Intake (2-5 years old)
Nutrient
Mean one-day intake
Estimated mean one-day requirement (RENI)
Gap Intake
Energy (kcal)
939
1132
193
Protein (g) 30
28.5 -
Iron (mg)
5.5
8.5
3.0
Vit. A (mcg RE)
310.7
400
89.3
Calcium (g)
0.29
0.53
0.24
Thiamin (mg)
0.54
0.48
Riboflavin (mg)
0.57
0.50
Niacin (mg)
9.5
6.5
Ascorbic Acid (mg)
22.9 45
22.1

18. Estimated mean one-day requirement (RENI)  
Comparison between the gap in intake and 1/3 of RENI
Nutrient
Mean one-day intake
Estimated mean one-day requirement (RENI)
Gap Intake
Energy (kcal)
939
1132
193
Protein (g) 30
28.5 -
Iron (mg)
5.5
8.5
3.0
Vit. A (mcg RE)
310.7
400
89.3
Calcium (g)
0.29
0.53
0.24
Thiamin (mg)
0.54
0.48
Riboflavin (mg)
0.57
0.50
Niacin (mg)
9.5
6.5
Ascorbic Acid (mg)
22.9 45
22.1
(MLAV: this is same as previous table. Please fix)

19. Level of Supplementation  
Level of Supplementation
150 – 250 kcalories
Micronutrient-rich

20. Baseline Weighing of Participants  
Baseline Weighing of Participants
Results of weighing and height measurement should be reviewed:
If have children who are overweight or nearing overweight children: counseling is advised and manage portion size of food being served.
If have acutely malnourished children, refer to RHU for check-up to ensure child has no infection
The use of weight-for-height index is highly preferred as compared to the weight-for-age. (MLAV: Let us discuss this further on implications of using WFH)

21.   
Monitoring of Weights
The monitoring/weighing should be more frequent, such as monthly, to determine appropriate response
If child not gaining weight
If some children are getting overweight

22. Implementing Procedures/ Scheme  
Implementing Procedures/ Scheme
Unless the program is available for all DCC, the identification of priority target areas may also be included, such as:
Areas with highest subsistence incidence;
Areas with highest poverty incidence;
Regions with the highest proportion of food insecure households or children

23. Implementing Procedures/ Scheme  
Implementing Procedures/ Scheme
SFP can contribute to the improvement of the current nutritional situation of the target beneficiary, but does not by itself represent a single solution to the primary health and nutritional problems. There is a need to complement with various interventions for a more effective and sustainable results.

24. Complementary Activities  
Complementary Activities
The following complementary activities are suggested:
Growth Monitoring
Deworming
Immunization
Micronutrient  supplementation  
Nutrition education and diet counseling to parents
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

25.   
Sustainability
Social components such as gardening (DCC could have gardens too and children can be taught on how to care for plants), as well as livelihood and income-generating activities, may be added to the supplementary feeding program for sustainability.
These activities may help overcome food insecurity when economic factors such as lack of money to buy food is the fundamental cause for the inadequacy in food intake.

26.   
Some Clarifications
How often do the day care worker accomplish the daily intake form?
Who is in-charge of doing the orientation?
How is the orientation being done?

27. Documentation/ Reporting  
Documentation/ Reporting
The documentation may include several events that are worthy of recognition or any unusual and remarkable characteristics of the program during implementation such as:
1. Program accomplishments
2. Good practices or lessons learned
Issues encountered and actions taken
Recommendations for policy or program adjustment

28. Thank You
Kingsoft Office
Make Presentation much more fun